Bbennet1
Joined Oct 2001
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Bbennet1's rating
I was a little apprehensive renting the DVD of this movie after all of these years since its original release, but most of it holds up remarkably well.
On the DVD commentary tract, the makers of the film, looking back on it after 25 years, seem to be equally as surprised. The director, Carl Reiner, points to an eight-minute scene in which it is just Denver and Burns talking in a bathroom. There is no music, no fast cuts, no special effects, and the scene simply holds our attention on its own. Mr. Reiner indicates that there is no way that the scene would be made that way today.
Some scenes are timeless, such as Jerry's first encounter with the Almighty via intercom in the all-white room. Also classic is the infamous scene in the bathroom in which God first reveals himself in the flesh to a humbled and still somewhat disbelieving John Denver.
Unfortunately, not all of the movie holds up as well. Some things, especially exteriors, seem very dated. And even though it is quaint, it is hard to believe that an intelligent and capable husband and wife team would cherish a Supermarket Assistant Manager Job so much. Ah well, it was another time when people still believed in sticking with one company and working their way up through the ranks.
I wish that the film would explore some of the harder questions of religion a little more seriously, but one wonders if the film would collapse if taken out of its sweet, feel-good movie formula in which it is helplessly trapped forever.
If anything, rent it for the performances of the two leads. George Burns, playing the role at 83, is so good, that it is, (not to be cliched,) awesome. However, what is equally as unbelievable is the performance of John Denver in his first and only acting gig. He hits some of his notes perfectly, and it really shows a significant skill and timing to play straight man to a legend like Burns.
On the DVD commentary tract, the makers of the film, looking back on it after 25 years, seem to be equally as surprised. The director, Carl Reiner, points to an eight-minute scene in which it is just Denver and Burns talking in a bathroom. There is no music, no fast cuts, no special effects, and the scene simply holds our attention on its own. Mr. Reiner indicates that there is no way that the scene would be made that way today.
Some scenes are timeless, such as Jerry's first encounter with the Almighty via intercom in the all-white room. Also classic is the infamous scene in the bathroom in which God first reveals himself in the flesh to a humbled and still somewhat disbelieving John Denver.
Unfortunately, not all of the movie holds up as well. Some things, especially exteriors, seem very dated. And even though it is quaint, it is hard to believe that an intelligent and capable husband and wife team would cherish a Supermarket Assistant Manager Job so much. Ah well, it was another time when people still believed in sticking with one company and working their way up through the ranks.
I wish that the film would explore some of the harder questions of religion a little more seriously, but one wonders if the film would collapse if taken out of its sweet, feel-good movie formula in which it is helplessly trapped forever.
If anything, rent it for the performances of the two leads. George Burns, playing the role at 83, is so good, that it is, (not to be cliched,) awesome. However, what is equally as unbelievable is the performance of John Denver in his first and only acting gig. He hits some of his notes perfectly, and it really shows a significant skill and timing to play straight man to a legend like Burns.
I saw this movie this past weekend on video and I still cannot believe it. It is the type of movie that makes you think for days. I have thought for days and I still cannot wrap my mind around the fact that this movie was actually made. I cannot and will not believe, as long as I live, that there is not a more deserving project sitting in a drawer somewhere that could have been made in the place of this trainwreck.
Still more puzzling is the fact that the film is so completely out of touch with the karaoke subculture it uses as its touchstone. It is as if the writer came up with this idea in the shower and never bothered to do any research or, (forgive me, I have no proof of this, but I will say it anyway,) even venture out to a karaoke bar.
Paul Giamatti is the sole standout as we watch his character become liberated from his prison of upper middle class corporate slavery, only to find that he has entered another prison of self indulgence. It has been said before that karaoke is not about the audience, it is about the singer. Giamatti, and his cohort Andre Braugher, are the only ones to effectively realize this with Giamatti getting so into his role that you honestly do not know what he is going to do next. However, because of the general failure of just about every other conversation and plotline in the film, it is tough to determine if this fascinating role is the result of the writer or the actor. And the strength of Braugher and Giamatti's story only serves to emphasize the tremendous mediocrity going on around it.
(Huey Lewis received some praise when the film was released, but I think that is due to the fact that he is completely relaxed on camera. This suits him well when he is boasting about his singing prowess, he is a man who walks into a karaoke bar and just simply knows that he is going to have the best voice. However, he is completely unconnected in almost every other scene in the movie.)
Warning: even though I am praising Giamatti's performance, I am not recommending this film. Rent at your own risk. Remember, you only have so much time on this earth.
Still more puzzling is the fact that the film is so completely out of touch with the karaoke subculture it uses as its touchstone. It is as if the writer came up with this idea in the shower and never bothered to do any research or, (forgive me, I have no proof of this, but I will say it anyway,) even venture out to a karaoke bar.
Paul Giamatti is the sole standout as we watch his character become liberated from his prison of upper middle class corporate slavery, only to find that he has entered another prison of self indulgence. It has been said before that karaoke is not about the audience, it is about the singer. Giamatti, and his cohort Andre Braugher, are the only ones to effectively realize this with Giamatti getting so into his role that you honestly do not know what he is going to do next. However, because of the general failure of just about every other conversation and plotline in the film, it is tough to determine if this fascinating role is the result of the writer or the actor. And the strength of Braugher and Giamatti's story only serves to emphasize the tremendous mediocrity going on around it.
(Huey Lewis received some praise when the film was released, but I think that is due to the fact that he is completely relaxed on camera. This suits him well when he is boasting about his singing prowess, he is a man who walks into a karaoke bar and just simply knows that he is going to have the best voice. However, he is completely unconnected in almost every other scene in the movie.)
Warning: even though I am praising Giamatti's performance, I am not recommending this film. Rent at your own risk. Remember, you only have so much time on this earth.